Separator attachment for cisterns



Dec. 29, 1925- s'. c. BRADY SEPARATOR ATTACHMENT FOR CISTERNS Filed March 5, 1925 heets-Sheet 1 Dec. 29 1925' 5. C. BRADY SEPARATOR ATTACHMENT FOR CISTERNS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Marcfi s, 1925 @IIE Patented ti er... i V

UNITED fi'tATEfi PATENT OFFICE.

SANFORD G. BRADY, F BARTLESVILLE, OKLAHOMA.

SEPARATOR ATTACHMENT FOR CISTERNS.

Application filed March 3, 1925. Serial No. 13,000.

T ll h it may oncgrn; These and other objects I attain bv the Be it known that I, SANFORD C. BRADY, a construction shown in the acconipanvine; citizen of the United States, residing at drawings, wherein for the purpose of illus Bartlesville, in the county of Washington tration is shown a preferred embodiment oi and State of Oklahoma, have invented cermy invention and wherein tain new and useful Improvements in Sep- Figure 1 is a perspective of a separator arator Attachments for Cisterns, of which attachment for cisterns constructed in arc the following is a specification, reference cordance with my invention; being had to the accompanying drawings. Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view thereto This invention relates to separator attachthrough;

ments for cisterns and more particularly to Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of a device adapted to divert the first water Figure 2 and coming from a root or other surface to a Figure 4 is a fra mentary section on the sewer and subsequently to change the path line H of Figure 2. of water so that it passes to the cistern thus Referring now more particularly to tho allowing for cleansing of the collecting surdrawings, the numeral 10 indicates a casing face before any of the water is passed to the of any suitable form and having at its upper cistern. I end an inlet 11 and at its lower end a pair A turther object of the invention is to of spaced outlets 12 and 13; the inlet as --a provide a device of this character which may designated is attached for connection with be very cheaply and readily produced and the down-spout from a root or other collectupon which the necessary repairs can be ing surface while the outlet 12 is to be con made at a. very low cost. nected with a sewer or waste and the outlet A further objectof the invention is to 13 to the cistern. Within the casing and the as provide a device at this character including upper end thereof is arranged a tray 1-1 a tripping member into which water passes having an opening 15 in the bottom thereof. continuously during passage of water from At the upper surface of the tray is arranged the collecting surface, this tripping member a removable screen 16 adapted to separate being counter-balanced by a weight and from the water such solids as twigs, leaves :1 being so constructed that it automatically and the like which have formed upon the empties itself so that it assumes the proper collecting surface (not herein shown) and so position for directing water to the sewer are brought down from this surface by the between range without the necessity of mewater. Access is had to the tray 1t and to chanical setting. the screen 16 so that this screen may he re- 35 A further object of the invention is to promoved and cleansed by a hinged door 1? ride a device of this character which is selfclosing an opening 18 formed in the side 35 draining as above described but which is so wall of the casing 10. mounted and constructed that even though l lxtending vertically between the bottom the rain slackens considerably, it will not of the tray 1t and the bottom oi the casing i lose its function of maintaining the conncc- 10 is a support 19 having pivotally connected tion between the water from the collecting therewith at vertically spaced points upper 0 surface and the cistern. and lower levers 20, 21. The lower lever :21

it. further object of the invention is to has pivotally connected with opposite ends provide in adevice oi this character ii. cans thereof valves 22, 23 coacting with the outfor determining the amount of water pass lots 12 and 13, these valves being substaning to the counterbalance or actuator during tially similar and each comprising a ii-tat that period expiring between the start of disk having lugs 25 by-ineans of which it rainfall and the operation of the actuator to may be pivotally engaged with the lever it connect the supply with. the cistern. and a packing disk or valve element 26 2e 7 the Valve 23 till cured-to the'disk 24; by securing elements 27. These securing elements serve to secure to the under surface of the packing disk a combined guide and disk holder 28 having prongs projecting into the outlet to insure proper seating of the valve disk.

At one end, the lever 20 has formed thereon a yoke 29 embracing a tubular container 30 which is closed at its lower end, as at 31, with the exception of a small leak port 32. The opposite end of the lever has adjustably secured thereto a balance-weight 33 of any suitable construction. Adjacent the balanceweight bearing end, the lever 20 is connected with the lever 21 by a link 241-. The balance weight is of such size that untila predetermined amount of fluid is collected within the container 30, movement of the lever 20 is prevented and the lever is maintained in an inclined position as illustrated in full lines in Figure 2. l/Vhen the lever 20 is in this position, the valve 23 is closed and the valve 22 open and the container 30 is so arranged that its open upper end 31 has but a small portion thereof arranged beneath the opening and accordingly but a portion of the water passing through this opening will enter the container. In order that the amount of water which does enter the container while in this position may be regulated, I mount upon the under surface of the pan 14 a swinging gate 35 which may be swung to partially close that portion ofthe opening 15 above the mouth of the container while in this position. In order that solids may be prevented from entering the container the mouth thereof is covered with a mesh 36 sufficiently line to prevent entry into the container of any solids sufficiently large to clog the leak outlet 32.

hen a suflicient amount of fluid has collected within the container 30, the container oveibalances the weight 33 and moves clownwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. lVhen in this position, its mouth is squarely opposed to the opening 15 and substantially all of the water passing through this opening falls into the container. At this time, the valve 22 is closed and the valve 23 open.

In the operation, assuming rain to have started and the water to have begun flow through the inlet 11 into the casing, it will pass through the opening 15 and a portion of the water so passing will enter the container 30, this portion being controlled by the position of the gate 35. At this time,

being closed, the water passing through the casing is being directed through the outlet 12 to the sewer or waste carrying with it any collected dust or debris from the receiving surface. The level of the water within the container 30 will gradually rise and finally reach a point in weight where it will overbalance the counterweight 33 causing the container to move downwardly and the lever to operate to shift the valves 22 and 23 so that the water is deflected to tl e cistern. It will be obvious that the time elapsing between the beginning of a flow through the casing and its direction to the cistern will be controlled by an extent of the downpour, the position of the gate 35 and the size of the opening 32. Gne of these elements is, of course, beyond human control. The two remaining elements, the gate and vent may be so regulated that it is assured that the collecting surface is thoroughly washed before any water is directed to the cistern. After the casing once reaches its lowest position and is arranged directly below the opening 15, it will be obvious that a slackening of the flow as from slackening of the downpour will not operate to cause the return of the container to its raised position for since substantially all of the water passing through the casing is impinging upon the open mouth of this container, the flow would have to be extremely small to be of less extent than the flow from the container through the vent 32 and this is necessary to any decrease in the contents of the container. The gate and those portions of the mechanism lying beneath the tray 14 may be inspected, removed or adjusted through an opening 37 formed in the side wall of the casing and covered by a re movable sliding door 38.

Since it will be obvious that the structure hereinbefore set forth is capable of a considerable range of change and modification without materially departing from the spirit of my invention, I do not limit myself to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. In a separator attachment for cisterns, a casing having an inlet opening and a pair of outlets, valves controlling said outlets and connected for opposite operation whereby one of the valves opens as the other valve closes and operating mechanism for said valves including a counterbalanced container having a leak port whereby it is normally empty and of insutiicient weight to overbal ance its counterweight, said container when overbalanced by the counterweight only partially underlying said inlet opening to receive water passing therethrough and after overbalancing its counterweight receiving substantially all of the water passing through said opening.

2; In a separator attachment for cisterns, a casinghaving an inlet opening and a pair of outlets, valves controlling said'outlets and connected for opposite operation whereby one of the valves opens as the other valve closes, and operating mechanism for said valves including the counterbalanced cont iner having a leak port whe e y i is n rmall'y empty and of insuflicient weight to overbalance its counterweight, said container when overbalanced by the counterweight only partially underlying said inlet opening to receive water passing there through and after overbalancing its counterweight receiving substantially all of the water passing through said opening, and a gate for reducing the effective area of that portion of the inlet beneath which the container is arranged when in the first named position.

3. In a separator attachment for cisterns, a compartment having an inlet and two outlets, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends within the compartment and having valves at opposite ends thereof for coaction with said outlets, a second lever pivoted within the compartment provided at one end with a counterweight and at the opposite end with a container arranged beneath said inlet, the container having a leak and when empty being of insuliicient weight to overbalance the counterweight of the last named lever, said container when positioned under the influence of the counterweight having its month only partially underlying the inlet to receive water passing therethrough and when positioned by its own weight substantially completely underlying said inlet to receive water passing therethrough and a connection between said levers for transmitting motion from one to the other thereof.

4:. In a separator attachment for cisterns, a compartment having an inlet and two outlets, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends within the compartment and having valves at opposite ends thereof for coaction with said outlets, a second lever pivoted within the compartment provided at one end with a counterweight and at the opposite end with a container arranged beneath said inlet, the container having a leak and when empty being of insuiiicient weight to overbalance the counterweight of the last named lever, said container when positioned under the influence of the counterweight having its month only partially underlying the inlet to receive water passing therethrough and when positioned by its own weight substan tially completely underlying said inlet to receive water passing therethri'mgh, a connection between said levers for transmitting motion from one to the other thereof, and a gate associated with the inlet opening for partially closing that portion of the inlet opening overlying the mouth of the container when in the first named position.

5. In a separator attachment for cisterns, a casing having an inlet and a pair of outlets, valves controlling said outlets and connected t'or opposite operation whereby one of the valves opens as the other closes, and operating mechanism for said valves including a container normally positioned to receive a portion of the 'ater passing through the inlet, said container having a leak and shifting after a predetermined amount of 'ater has collected therein to a position where it receives from the inlet a greater proportion of the water passing therethrough and a connection between said container and the valves whereby the positions of the valves are reversed as the container shifts.

6. In a separator attachment for cisterns, a casing having an inlet and a pair of outlets, valves controlling said outlets and connected for opposite operation whereby one of the valves opens as the other closes, and operating mechanism for said valves including a container normally positioned to receive a portion of the water passing through the inlet, said container having a leak and shifting after a predetermined amount of water has collected therein to a position where it receives from the inlet a greater proportion of the water passing therethrough, a connection between said container and the valves whereby the positions of the valves are reversed as the container shifts,

and means for regulating the amount of water passing through the inlet which is delivered to the container while in the first named position.

7 In a separator attachment for cisterns, a casing having an inlet and two outlets, a support within the casing, a pair of levers pivoted to the support and each pivoted intermediate its ends, a link connecting the lovers for simultaneous movement, a pair of valves carried by opposite ends of one of said levers and alternately coacting with said outlets to close the same, a weight normally maintaining one of said valves in engagement with its outlet and a container carried by the second lever and having a drain leak port, said container being normally positioned to receive a portion of the water passing through said inlet into the casing and when full shifting and thereby shifting the valves, said container when full assuming a position beneath the inlet wherein it receives a greater percentage of the water passing through the inlet than is received thereby when in the first named position.

8. In a separator attachment for cisterns, a casing having an inlet and two outlets, a support within the casing, a pair of lovers pivoted to the support and each pivoted intermediate its ends, a link connecting the levers for simultaneous movement, a pair of valves carried by opposite ends of one of said levers and alternately coacting with said outlets to close the same, a weight nor mally maintaining one of said valves in engagement with its outlet, a container carried by the second lever and having a drain leak port, said container being normally positioned to receive a portion of the water pass ing through said inlet into the casing and pivoted to the casing wall and swingable to when full shifting and thereby shifting the partially close that portion of the inlet bevalves, said container when full assuming a neath which the container is arranged in the 10 position beneath the inlet wherein it receives first named position.

5 a greater percentage of the Water passing In testimony whereoi I hereunto aflix my through the inlet than is received thereby signature. when in the first named position, and. a gate SANFORD C. BRADY. 

